- With Portugal as the guest country, ceramics and DIY taking centre stage, over 1,000 workshops, more than 130 exhibitors and over 20,000 products and materials, the Fair returns to the Farga de l’Hospitalet from 5 to 8 November.
- This year, the event is appealing to visitors’ sense of solidarity and encouraging them to take part in a ‘creative initiative’ to alleviate the unwanted loneliness experienced by older people at Christmas.
Creativa Barcelona, the major annual event for creativity and crafts, is putting the finishing touches to what is set to be its most DIY (Do It Yourself) edition yet. From 5 to 8 November, more than 130 exhibitors, showcasing over 20,000 products, as well as various activity rooms and other spaces hosting more than 1,000 workshops, will take over the Farga de l’Hospitalet, transforming it, once again, into the epicentre of arts and crafts. An unmissable event for professionals, enthusiasts, creators and the simply curious, but also for families. Indeed, in addition to its wide-ranging programme covering every possible discipline, the fair aims to captivate and attract all audiences, regardless of age. It offers everyone four days to switch off from screens and reconnect with the joy of creating with their hands.
Having attracted over 30,000 visitors in 2025, Creativa Barcelona is set to host an edition this year that is particularly characterised by the diversity of its offerings and its intergenerational nature. Alongside the disciplines that traditionally form part of the fair, there are new ways of approaching DIY, with home improvement as one of the major new features and ceramics taking centre stage. Portugal, as the guest country, will inspire the venue’s décor and offer a glimpse of
Portuguese crafts and handicrafts through an exhibition and the presence of artisans, creators and exhibitors from our neighbouring country. Furthermore, Creativa Kids is expanding with more activities for young and old alike.
In short, four days during which La Farga will be transformed into a vast space for learning, experimenting and sharing. The fair invites visitors to swap endless scrolling for a palette of colours, textures and nuances. Visitors will not only be able to find materials and discover the latest trends in arts and crafts, but also sit down to work, follow the workshop leaders’ instructions and see how, little by little, an idea begins to turn into a creation. An opportunity to put screens to one side and rediscover the pleasure of creating with one’s own hands.
A Christmas against unwanted loneliness
The intergenerational nature of this year’s event will also have a social dimension. Creativa Barcelona is appealing to its visitors’ sense of solidarity so that, together, we can help combat one of the scourges of our time: the unwanted loneliness suffered by many older people, a form of isolation that has become one of the greatest social challenges.
The initiative is very simple: the event invites all visitors to bring a Christmas card made by hand at home or to make one at the exhibition itself. In either case, the card can be personalised at the venue with the name of the person who will receive it. The event organisers will then ensure the cards reach older people experiencing unwanted loneliness.
“We want to turn something as simple as taking the time to make a Christmas card into a gesture to alleviate, even if only for a few moments, the loneliness felt by many of our elderly people. But we don’t want this to be done at random; that’s why each card will be personalised: whoever makes it will know the name of the person who will receive it,” says Juli Simón, president of the Fundació FiraGran.
Over 1,000 workshops to learn and enjoy, and 20,000 products
The fact is, Creativa Barcelona aims to be much more than just a trade fair; it aims to be a space where things happen and where people can enjoy new experiences. This philosophy is particularly reflected in the more than 1,000 workshops that will take place over the four days of the event.
These workshops will take place in the various Creativa Barcelona classrooms and in the Make & Take by Servei Estació classroom (express workshops where, in just 45 minutes, you can take home a finished craft project), as well as at many of the stands run by the more than 130 exhibitors.
Creative sewing, patchwork, scrapbooking, painting, pottery, DIY, as well as other disciplines such as cyanotype, plant photography, the art of sealing wax or Kangxi bookbinding, are just some of the activities that will form part of a programme enabling visitors to discover techniques, experiment and take home a creation of their own.
The programme will be rounded off with a proper market for materials and tools: over 20,000 products and items on display at the stands, many of which will make ideal gifts or decorations for this coming Christmas.
Some of these products will also be related to DIY, one of the new additions to this year’s event, brought to you by Servei Estació. With this discipline, Creativa Barcelona is expanding its creative universe, because “DIY is also creativity – it’s not just about fixing things – and it’s attracting an ever-wider audience.”
“The inclusion of this discipline reflects an evolution in the sector and amongst enthusiasts, who are moving beyond conventional or traditional techniques. DIY is more popular than ever,” emphasises Daniel Foncillas, co-director of Creativa Barcelona.
Ceramics: the star discipline
Another major focus of this year’s event is ceramics. Working with clay demands time, attention and direct contact with the material. It is a new way of connecting with oneself, qualities that have really brought this technique – which combines craftsmanship, tradition and the avant-garde – into vogue.
The fair will therefore bring together a range of ceramics-related initiatives and offer workshops for those wishing to take their first steps or delve deeper into this discipline, including sessions led by the ceramicist Nati Carili, known as @ceramicaconnati, as well as workshops on cold ceramics, which will be held at the Make & Take by Servei Estació.
Creativa will have a Portuguese flavour
And as has become customary, Creativa Barcelona will also ‘take us on a journey’ without leaving La Farga. This time to Portugal. The journey will begin at the entrance to the venue, where the legendary photocall – designed for this edition by Toys Line and Okto – will welcome visitors amidst traditional Portuguese tiles and the famous Rooster of Barcelos, one of the great symbols of the country’s popular culture.
In fact, the official opening of the event (on the 5th at 11.00) will be attended by the Portuguese Consul in Barcelona, who, together with the official delegation, will take a tour of the exhibition grounds. During the visit, she will be able to discover how creative sewing and the Portuguese textile world will take centre stage with creations from artisan brands such as Catarina Registo Atelier, Fora da Caixa, Retrosaria Linhas & Pontos and Filohmena, whilst the Portuguese tradition of rag and fabric dolls (bonecas de trapo or bonecas de pano) will be represented by Muñecas Oficina da Leonor and Rute Granja. Meanwhile, Marta Craft will showcase its fragrances, essential oils, incense, candles and DIY materials.
Visitors will also be able to savour a taste of Portugal at Creativa Barcelona thanks to A Casa Portuguesa, which will be serving the legendary pastéis de Belém throughout the four days – the traditional puff-pastry tartlets filled with a cream made from egg yolks, milk and sugar, originally from Lisbon.
Creativa Kids is expanding
This edition of Creativa Barcelona aims to be, above all, a fair for everyone. That is why, in 2026, the children’s programme is also expanding with a new Creativa Kids Classroom, featuring more workshops and a play and experimentation area designed specifically for children.
One of the unique features of the new space is that it is also designed to enhance the experience for families. Adults will be able to take part in the workshops alongside their children or let the children carry out the activities under the supervision of the Toysline team of workshop leaders whilst they explore the fair, visit the exhibitors or take part in one of the many workshops aimed at adults.
As Daniel Foncillas points out, “the aim is not simply to entertain the children whilst the adults get on with other things; it’s about creating a space where parents, grandparents and children can share a creative activity, at their own pace, and take their creation home with them”. Because, “creating is also a way of playing and learning”, adds Foncillas.
Creativa Women: women’s wellbeing and entrepreneurship
Furthermore, following the success of last year’s edition, Creativa Women will once again form part of the programme, expanding its offering with activities aimed at female creators, entrepreneurs and women interested in developing new projects. The space will bring together training sessions and workshops linked to creativity and entrepreneurship, alongside other initiatives related to wellbeing, beauty, self-care and femininity.
A programme that views creativity as a tool that goes beyond the practice of an artistic or craft discipline: it can also serve to acquire new knowledge, launch projects, discover abilities and set aside time for oneself.
All this in an edition that also maintains the admission price of 3 euros (free for children under 5). Because the idea is for everyone to enjoy four days of shopping, learning, experimenting, discovering new disciplines and, above all, taking time to enjoy the pleasure of creating with their own hands – in a place that reminds us that, in an increasingly fast-paced and digital world, there are still things that require time, attention and two hands to come into being.
Creativa Barcelona 2026
- Where? La Farga de l’Hospitalet (C/Barcelona, 2, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat)
- When? 5, 6, 7 and 8 November. Thu–Sat 10.00–19.30. Sun 10.00–15.00.
- What? The country’s largest fair for crafts, handmade goods and creativity, with over 130 exhibitors, more than 20,000 products on sale and around 1,000 activities and workshops.
- Further information and ticket sales? www.creativabarcelona.com
- Social media? IG @creativabarcelona
Source: ACEVEDO COM